Papon | |
|---|---|
 Mahanta at the Coke Studio Season 3 launch | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Angaraag Mahanta |
| Also known as | Papon |
| Born | (1975-11-24)24 November 1975 (age 49) Nagaon, ..Assam, India |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) | Singer,composer |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | MDR Records,Times Music,T-Series,Sony Music |
Angaraag Mahanta (born 24 November 1975), known by hisstagenamePapon, is anIndianplayback singer andcomposer fromAssam. Papon has also sung in many languages apart fromAssamese likeHindi,Bengali,Tamil andMarathi.[1] He is the lead vocalist and founder of the folk-fusion bandPapon and The East India Company.[2] He is the son of the noted Assamese singerKhagen Mahanta andArchana Mahanta.
Papon started his musical journey in the year 1998 with theAssamese song "Nasaba Sokule" from the albumSnigdha Junak.[3][4][5] In 2004 he released his first album,Junaki Raati.
Papon made his debut in Bollywood with the song "Om mantra" from the filmStrings - bound by faith in 2006.[6][7][8] In 2011, his song was "Jiyein Kyun" from the movieDum Maro Dum which was his first big hit. In 2014, he sang "Lakeerein", which is a poem byGulzar, for the filmKya Dilli Kya Lahore and "Sun RI Bavli" forNagesh Kukunoor's filmLakshmi. In 2015, he sang "Moh moh ke dhage" for the filmDum Laga Ke Haisha and "Humnava" inHamari Adhuri Kahani (2015). In 2016, he sang "Bulleya" for the filmSultan. In August 2016,Red Bull released "Hometown Heroes," a seven-part documentary web series that revisits the story of Papon's youth and rising career.[9][10] Papon's 2018 song "Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya", from the movieSanju, comments on differences between the real Sanju and the "reel" Sanju.[11][12]
In 2013, Papon was responsible for the theme song forMTV Roadies X: Battle for Glory – "Jajabor" (Jajabor being an Assemese word for yayavar - "traveler").[13]
In 2017, he was one of the judge inThe Voice India Kids.[14]
| Year | Film | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Rodor Sithi |
In 2007, Papon formed an electronic folk-fusion band called Papon and The East India Company. The band consists of Papon on vocals, Brin Desai and Hameem Kader on live electronics, Jinti on lead guitars, Kirti on percussion and Dipu on bass and Tanmay on Drums[15][16] The six members came from backgrounds varying from Assamese folk to metal and blues totrip hop.
The band has performed twice at the SAARC Music Band Festival in New Delhi, the Eastwind Festival, and the Kovalam Literary Festival and has performed overseas with Sutasi inSingapore. The band took a two-year break in the wait for a solo album which was released internationally at the end of 2011.[17] The band is back in action in November with 4 big festivals in the same month. They also played at the October Fest inBangalore, NH7 Weekender fest inPune and the Rock for Rights concert inNew Delhi.[18]
His father, Khagen Mahanta, died on 12 June 2014.[19]
He now lives inMumbai with his wife Shweta Mishra Mahanta. They have two children.[20][21]
He initially went there for Architecture but later enrolled himself to a degree in English Literature in Delhi University. He spent some time in Ramjas College before he shifted to Motilal Nehru.[22]
Papon, who was a mentor and judge onThe Voice India Kids, onFacebook live-streaming from his own page was seen putting Holi colors on an 11-year-old girl, and[23][24] was alleged on media and social media to have kissed her. On 24 Feb 2018, The police lodged a case against him after a complaint from the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Along with the other contestants present on the video streaming and their respective guardians, the parents of the minor also denied allegations against Papon stating that it was fatherly love shown by Papon and there was no kiss.[25][26][27] He left the reality TV show as judge due to the allegations.[28]
A court of law later found insufficient reason to charge Papon based on the police investigation reports and closed the case and stated that the case arose due to a mistake of fact.[29]
Papon has featured in albums which carry the labels of MDR Records, in a collaboration with Times Music, and has also featured in the soundtrack ofBollywood filmsDum Maaro Dum,I Am Kalam,Soundtrack,Patang, and most recentlyBarfi!. He also featured on the Indian leg of the showCoke Studio @ MTV. He performed on the showGlobal Indian Film Awards with MIDIval Punditz,Kailash Kher andShubha Mudgal. He also appeared onStar world India, Episode six ofThe Dewarists withRabbi Shergill and recorded a song "Khule Da Rabb". Papon has also worked with Shantanu Moitra in the 4th season of The Dewarists for 'O Megh' which is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's poem of same name.[17][30][31][32]
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Prag Cine Awards | Best Playback Singer Male | Title Track -Raamdhenu | Won | [33] |
| 2013 | Prag Cine Awards | Best Playback Singer Male | Rowd | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Prag Cine Awards | Best Playback Singer Male | Bhal Pabo Najanilu | Nominated | [34] |
| 2015 | Prag Cine Awards | Best Supporting Actor Male | Rodor Sithi | Nominated | |
| Best Playback Singer Male | "Protidine" –Rodor Sithi | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | 22nd Screen Awards | Best Male Playback | "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" –Dum Laga Ke Haisha | Won | [35] |
| 61st Filmfare Awards | Best Male Playback Singer | Nominated | [36][37] | ||
| Zee Cine Awards 2016 | Best Playback Singer - Male | Nominated | [38][39] | ||
| 8th Mirchi Music Awards | Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | [40] | ||
| GiMA Awards 2016 | Best-Playback Singer - Male | Won | [41][42][43] | ||
| 17th IIFA Awards | Best Male Playback Singer | Won | [44][45] |
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